Burgos and the Museum of Human Evolution...

 

 Vitoria-Gasteiz to Burgos

(Burgos, Spain; Nov. 21 - 25, 2024)

I really didn't think I would be this far behind in posting this next blog, but here it is!

 After our 10 days in Vitoria-Gasteiz we were off to catch a bus for the short 1.25 hr ride to Burgos! It lies in the autonomous community of Castile and León. We arrive early and its cold in the 40s (F).

After grabbing a bite to eat we arrive at our apartment. It a spacious place on the 3rd floor with a large outdoor patio and a big nice kitchen. A fine place for our 4 nights here.

 

Our primary reason for coming to Burgos is because of the fascinating Museum of Human Evolution 

 

We'd been wanting to go for some time. This museum boasts the famous skull, Cranium 5. It is around 400,000 years old and one of the most complete and best preserved cranium fossils worldwide. It was found in the renowned archaeological site of Atapuerca, not far away, providing the earliest known evidence of hominins in the western part of Europe.. The skull is of our extinct relative, Homo heidelbergensis. .....found in 1992.

 

Here you can see "Elvis" the pelvis, the 400,000 - 500,000 year old pelvis found at Atapuerca....

 

 

A walk into an enormous brain? Its made of wool and wires.... 

 Also on display, a metal sculpture of a bison

  It is amazing that at least nine other species of humans walked our planet. We, homo sapiens, being the lucky ones to walk now. To see such undeniable evidence of our past evolution forces me to think of what the future holds. Here you can see our similarities and our differences with our cousins. In this pic, only us and the chimps are extant....

 

Also found in Burgos, is the 1955 sculpture of El Cid. Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar or El Cid, was a medieval Spanish ruler who fought for both Christians and Muslims. (Imagine that!)

There are many stories of this hero worth reading about.

 We really enjoyed walking all around Burgos and seeing the sights....like this...the 16th century Arcos de Castilfalé. This was, for hundreds of years a gateway to the city. Being part of the ancient wall that protected the city of Burgos.

....and more modern art...

 

At least 1200 years old, the Castle of Burgos, located up on a hill overlooking the city....

the view.... 

 The Cathedral and its stunning artwork.....

 

also impressive was the chain of grafted together sycamore trees. Each tree is grafted into the next by wiring the branches together. This walkway goes for maybe a quarter mile or longer....

 

Burgos, its river-walk, the Museum, history, architecture and its trees.... was another impressive stop on our journey through Spain.

Stay tuned for the last post of our trip coming soon!

KnJ